Peek-a-Boo Back...

The other night, I went went a few of my gal pals to see the musical production of Dreamgirls (wonderful production and Jimmie was my FAVORITE), and one of my friends sported the cutest little backless dress! It was colorful and full of character, I think that I may have to add one or two to my summer wardrobe). Aren't these dresses by Frances May just darling? Simply darling!

{photos courtesy of Frances May via Alyson of Unruly Things for A Cup of Jo}

Have a Lovely Weekend...

Tonight my plans are to hang out with a few friends and enjoy some good 'ol music. Other than that I believe that it's going to be a leisurely weekend where I can tinker with my new shiny laptop and play with the dog.

Today was such a beautiful day in so many ways and hopefully that spills into my weekend.

Whatever your plans are for the weekend, enjoy them thoroughly!

Have a Lovely Weekend!

{Photo courtesy of Natsko Seki found via Oh Joy!}

Chris August...

I've heard this song on the radio a few times and i always try to catch who the artist is and unfortunately I kept missing it. So, I wrote down the words and did a little Google search and voila, Chris August popped up. The song entitled Starry Night is just completely amazing to me. He's a talented musician/writer and I pray him much success with his music and that it continues to touch the lives of many!!

I'm giving my life to the only one who makes the Moon reflect the sun.
Every Starry Night, that was His design.
I'm giving my life to the only son, who was and is and yet to come
Let the praises ring, 'cause he is everything.

{video via Youtube}

An Ode to an Apple (Macbook)...

Oh Apple dear Apple,

how I've pined for you way too long. How I wish that I could tickle your keys and create splendid things on you! You've been improved with new bells and whistles that long to be tinkered with. How pretty you would look in a new home (mine) and you can meet the other electronics that have been quite content to stay with me. Our possibilities are endless, the creating, the designing, the travels and the good times that I foresee already. We must be together! Won't you come to me...please with various laptop covers on top?!

Week in Review...

Oh my goodness, let me just say that my past few days have been wonderful!

Last Saturday, I had my WONDERFUL and AMAZING letterpress class (I'll share photos soon) given by Suann of Simplesong. I mean the class was MORE than I expected and Suann is a gem. If she offers classes in the future (which she will), HURRY and sign up for one, you'' be so happy that you did! I was!

On Saturday, I also go a chance to hang out with a few of my friends and we "found" (courtesy of my friend's sister)
Buzz Bakery! OMG I can't describe to you my elation when I walked into this place. It's amazing! Not only is it colorful, delectable and just absolutely amazing, their staff is by far some of the nicest people I've met on the planet! I had their coconut cream pie and and and, oh wait I think I just drifted off in coconut cream pie land, it was hands down one of the best desserts ever! Not only is this place equipped with a little computer station, couches for lounging around while munching on great food, they also have music nights on Monday's and they stay open til MIDNIGHT. What more could I ask for. I def. will be visiting them again very soon!

Fast forward to this Wednesday, I headed up to New York with my mother and best friend for my BIRTHDAY. We hopped a bus and did New York in a New York minute (well not really it was longer than a minute but get the point, ha ha). I had such a wonderful day, I really really did! One of the highlights was a special surprise that my mother had planned for me and let's just say that I visited Tiffany & Co. and walked out a very happy gal. In order to make my birthday memorable, my mom wanted me to have something that helped remind me my milestone birthday, something that would remind me of her and something that I can treasure for the rest of my life. It was a very sentimental moment and such a wonderful gesture on behalf of my mother. Many times we take life for granted and/or the people in it and I'm just so happy that I was able to see another year and most of all celebrate it with the one who loves me most, my mom. So after, our mother/daughter moment, we painted the city of New York red until rain washed it out, ha ha We left New York with Magnolia Bakery cupcakes, a few goodies, soggy clothes and wonderful memories!

{photo courtesy of We Heart It via Tumblr}

The Countdown Continues...

7 glorious days remaining!

Let your peepers enjoy this wonderful folly!

The Countdown Begins...

8 more glorious days remaining!!!
Enjoy this little video for Kindle via I Love Muffins! Isn't it oh so darling!?

Have a Lovely Weekend...

I'm looking forward to the extended weekend that is quickly approaching within just a few short hours. Aside from trying to convince myself to do some much needed spring/pre-summer cleaning (you know the kind where you go through your old clothes and decided what you really need and what you should part with cleaning, the get on your hands and knees and scrub clean cleaning, the dreaded, if I open the closet door an avalanche of forgotten things might attack me but it needs to be done sooner than later cleaning), I think that this weekend should be simply lovely.

My mother and I are going to see A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor while munching on our little assortment of food treats.

And I'm hoping to see Please Give as well as eating some good food, spend time with the dog, and maybe just maybe possibly picking out some paint for my room renovation.

With all that being said, have a lovely weekend all and may you enjoy your time filling it with things and people you love!

{photo courtesy of Audrey + Lindsay}

Flower Power...

I've always wanted to have a home or room that has a least one small vase of fresh flowers. The look is beautiful and it's refreshing to have something with vivid color and flourishing blooms in a room of familiarity.

Last week at the Farmer's Market I decided that I will treat myself to fresh flowers once a week as long as the Farmer's Market was in town. My flower of choice has been the peony flower (light pink, dark pink and white) and it's been almost one week later and the flowers have all opened up and add a nice element to my room.

I'm now hooked and with this book (which I am promptly going to add to my birthday wish list), and my skills from my floral class, I think that I can gussy up my weekly floral treat!

(photo courtesy of Amazon)

Good Stuff...

I've heard about Good Stuff Eatery (home to delicious burgers and shakes) a few times before but now that I've seen a small peek of Spike Mendelsohn's debut cookbook, The Good Stuff Cookbook, I really really need to go PRONTO and add the cookbook to my growing cookbook collection!

one more thing: they even have a Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake (mentioned here)! I guess I'm now in the marshmallow milkshake know!

(photo courtesy of Amazon)

Know it All's and Hearts...

While reading June's edition of Real Simple, I spotted some fantastic pencils, dubbed as Know it All pencils. They are just the darndest little things. They have little facts on them to you know, help you know it all (not really but they seem fun to have). I think that out of the collection of know it all pencils, the Chef's pencils may be my favorite! A rousing round of applause to Paper Pastries for such a marvel idea!

Also, while browsing their etsy shop, my eyes gravitated to a little card, that says I left my ♥ in Brooklyn, but you can actually customize any city that you like. Although I haven't been yet, I'm thinking that perhaps I should get a card that reads I left my heart in Paris...a piece of it is over there I tell you...it really is. I'll see you one day my fair city, one day!

Marshmallow Delight...

I mean I like toasted marshmallows and I really like making smores at home in my little white oven. There is a terrfic S'mores with raspberries recipe that i've followed a few times and it doesn't disappoint....not EVER.

So since I have a little marshmallow love in my heart, I was def. up to trying a toasted marshmallow shake! Doesn't it look divine? I just want to gobble it up right this instant. I'm going to follow this recipe and hopefully make it sooner than soon!

{photo via Cupcakes and Cashmere}

Blushing Ambition...

Blushing Ambition is a wonderfully delightful blog that I spotted via Refinery29 today. Annabel's blog is chock full of fashion photos (of her daily wares), food/restaurants (my favorirte part!), style, pizzaz and much much more. I enjoyed getting lost in the wonderful world of blushing amibition today! To me her blog makes me want to move to San Fran and try every single restaurant in the city!!!

{photo courtesy of Blushing Ambition}

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Vintage Paper Placemats...

A few weeks ago I spotted these vintage paper placemats during a Paper Source trip. Isn't it divine. I would love to incorporate these into a party or I can even use them as gift wrap! The mind wheels are a turning!

I ♥ Design by Avenue...

This morning I received my daily email a la Daily Candy, and not to say that all of their emails stick in my head (ok ok sometimes they do and sometimes they don't), but today's little gift was wonderful! They featured an online design company, I ♥ Design by Avenue that pretty much does the interior design work for you! I quickly went to their site and not only is this a fabulous idea (helping people design, furnish and decorate their space), but the name is so darling.

The process is that you send them photos of your space (be it, bedroom, office, kitchen, etc.) and some measurements and they in turn (for a reasonable fee of $3.50 per square foot..is that a lot?) give you illustrations of what they can do! Of course they do more so you should really really, no I mean really really check them out. Plus their website is seriously peachy keen!

They have a bevy of styles to choose from, however, I think my design style is more or less, give or take, roundabout Rue Claudel: a bicycle with a basket is the only way to arrive at Rue Claudel (i like pretty bicycles!). It is the best of the French Provincial style (I ♥ Paris!): Elegant European design made warm and welcoming by neutral materials (I love warm and neutral colors!). Delicately carved settee (I've been wanting one of these!) is brought down to earth by lived-in linen and a neutral maple wood finish. Add to that some patinaed metals, woven chair seats, honed limestone and the scene is fit for the countryside! If you like Wisteria, vouz aimerez Rue Claudel. Oh how do they know my style so well? It's like they are my best friends!!

Oh Daily Candy, you really outdid yourself today with this great find. Thanks for sharing it/them with the world!

{found via Daily Candy photo courtesy of I ♥ Design by Avenue}

French Hand-tied Bouquet...

I would love how to make a small French hand-tied bouquet. I'm guessing with the few hours worth of knowledge I gained from the floral class I attended in March coupled with these directions, it should have no other choice but to turn out pretty sweet...right?

{photo via Design Mom and directions via Frolic}

Bags...

I think that these bags by Death and Texas want to come home with me pronto! I also think that they want to possibly be a birthday gift! Wouldn't that be the bee's knees! Hmmm I'm already starting to think about the small things that I can put in them and I'm sure the objects would be proud to be toted around in such beautiful packaging! And the really cool part about the striped bag is that is also functions as a bike handlebar bag (maybe a bike will soon follow so I can put it on and spruce the bike up a bit), a purse (with included shoulder straps) and it can be a clutch. Talk about multi-functional!

{photos via Death and Texas }

The Generous Mr. Lovewell...

I absolutely ♥ the ministry of MercyMe and my heart is steadily growing fonder as they have this movement called The Generous Mr. Lovewell (which is also the name of their latest CD). The movement calls for us to love one another and to do well for and towards each other.

Small acts of love/kindness without looking for a reward in return speaks volumes to a world/people that are in need. Kind words and actions go an immeasurable distance and lasts for a lifetime.

In a world that can sometimes be chaotic and even harsh, we all are in need of being a Generous Mr. Lovewell (we need more). Love has a much more lasting effect than hate, it feels so much better and has an even greater return!

I WILL be a Generous Mr. Lovewell, how about you?

Sing a Song...

How exceptionally cool is this video? I saw this story on Headline News yesterday and it really captured my attention. This is something that happens when you have a creative mind (Eric Whitacre) and various people from around this beautiful world, finding a common thread...music. Each singer uploaded themselves singing and they were inevitably turned into a virtual choir. Absolutely wonderful!